One board a day, the same for everyone: 48 letters, one clue, a handful of theme words and a spangram that names the theme. Every letter belongs to exactly one word. A new board arrives at midnight Eastern Time.
How the daily theme works
Trace words by dragging across touching letters, diagonals included, or tap the letters one at a time and tap the last one again. Theme words turn blue; the spangram, which stretches from one side of the board to the other, turns yellow. When every letter is colored, you are done. There is no way to lose: the only question is how many hints you need.
The boards are built from 131 themes we wrote, from fruits and dog breeds to poker terms and ways to laugh. A program places the words so that they fill all 48 letters without crossing, and no theme comes back within six weeks of daily puzzles.
Streaks and sharing
Finish the daily board on consecutive days to grow your streak; the stats button also counts the boards you solved without a hint. Share your result as a row of circles (blue for theme words, yellow for the spangram, a bulb for each hint) that never shows the words. Then try the daily word grid, the daily groups puzzle or unlimited themes.
Hints and past boards
The themes hints page starts with the clue explained, then the number of words, the spangram and finally each theme word. Missed a day? The archive has every past board with its answers.
Frequently asked questions
When does the daily theme change?
At midnight Eastern Time (New York), together with our other daily puzzles. Everyone gets the same board that day.
What is the spangram?
The word that names the theme. It runs from one side of the board to the opposite side and turns yellow when you find it.
Where are the answers?
Every daily board has its own page in the archive with the theme words and the spangram. For today, they stay folded away, and the hints page shows them one step at a time.
Is this the NYT Strands puzzle?
No, and we never publish its answers. Our themes and boards are original. Strands is a trademark of The New York Times Company; this site is not affiliated with it.
Can I play more than one?
Yes. Unlimited themes has 2,000 more boards, a new one every round.